Improvement in combined fire and burglar alarms



C. A. MAXFIELD.

COMBINED FIRE AND BURGLAR ALARM.

No. 170,485, I Patented Nov. 30,1875.

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N.F'E[ERS, FHOYO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON 0 C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES A. MAXFIELD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED FIRE AND BURGLAR ALARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 170,485, dated November3t), 1875; application filed May 10, 1875.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that 1,0HARLES A. MAXFIELD, of the city and State of NewYork, have invented an Improvement in Burglar and Fire Alarms, of whichthe following is a specification:

Electrical alarms are objectionable to some persons who do notunderstand their management, and fire-alarms can seldom be used also asburglar-alarms without separate appliances.

My present invention is a mechanical device for ringing a bell andblowing a whistle, and this is set in operation by hand in cases wherean alarm is to be given, or else the apparatus is set in motion by theopening of a door or window with which it is connected, or else by theburning 0d of a cord that is led around the room, or wherever there is arisk of fire, so that the alarm becomes automatic.

In the drawing, Figure l is an elevation, partially in section, of theapparatus. is a plan of the same. 7

I make use of a cylinder, a, in which there is a weighted piston, b,with a cup leather or packing, that confines the air as the pistondescends, and blows out such air through the pipe 01 and whistle e, suchwhistle being outside of the window, or wherever most convenient, togive an alarm that will be heard by the police or others, and the sizeof this cylinder a is such as to contain atmosphere sufficient to causethe whistle to blow the proper length of time. The piston 12 is drawn upby a cord, f, connected to the rod h, and passing over a pulley, k, toany convenient position for operating, and when this piston and rod areraised the latch 2' springs in and holds the same. Upon the piston-rodthere is a rack gearing to the teeth of the pinion Z, and upon the shaftof said pinion there is a disk, m, with pins, that operate the hammernto ring the bell o as the piston descends, so that the air-cylinderprevents the bell being struck too fast, and the bell and whistle unitein giving the alarm. The bent lever r, to which the rods is connected,serves to withdraw the latch 43 whenever the signal is to be given,and-for this purpose the cord it may be led to a door, window, or otherplace to be guarded against burglary, and said cord will be pulled bythe act of opening or moving such door or window.

In order to use this device as a fire-alarm I make use of a weight, o,sliding freely on the rod 8, and suspended by a cord, w, passing overone or more pulleys, w, and leading around in any desired directions toplaces where there is a risk of fire, so that when the cord or string isburned oil the weight will drop and move the rod 8, and withdraw thelatch and liberate the alarm.

In cases where the cord t is led to a bed, or to a counter or cashiersdesk, the alarm can be operated by a person by pulling the'said cord.

I claim as my invention- 1. The air-cylinder a and weighted piston b, incombination with the whistle e and the alarm-bell 0, operated by themovement of the piston, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the air-cylinder, weighted piston, and alarm,of a cord, w, weight v, and disconnecting mechanism, as set forth, sothat the alarm is given by the Weight, if the string or cord is burnedoff, as set forth.

Signed by me this 6th day of May, A. D.

CHAS. A. MAXFIELD.

Witnesses GEo. T. PINQKNEY, CHAS. H. SMITH.

